The Mongolian political scene in 2008 was dominated by the June 29 elections to the Mongolian Great Khural (Hural; national assembly) and the subsequent riot over the results. A total of 311 party candidates and 45 independents registered in 26 constituencies to contest the 76 seats. The Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party (MPRP) and the Democratic Party (DP) each fielded 76 candidates, and 36 stood for the Citizens’ Alliance (CA), which was formed by the new Citizens’ Movement Party in alliance with the Mongolian Green Party and the Mongolian Social Democratic Party.

On the basis of preliminary results, MPRP Chairman Sanjaagiin Bayar thanked the Mongolian people on June 30 for reelecting the MPRP, but DP Chairman Tsakhiagiyn Elbegdorj demanded a recount. On July 1 crowds gathered in central Ulaanbaatar, and young rioters stoned and set fire to the headquarters of the MPRP. Five people were killed, four by gunshot wounds. Pres. Nambaryn Enkhbayar then declared a state of emergency; armoured cars patrolled the central streets, a night curfew was enforced, and media censorship was imposed, but there was no further violence, and on July 4 the state of emergency was lifted. CA leaders Jalbaasurengiin Batzandan and Otgonjargalyn Magnai and Republican Party Chairman Bazarsadyn Jargalsaikhan were arrested on charges of incitement.

Partial election results released on July 14 by the General Election Committee (GEC) confirmed the election of 66 candidates (the MPRP, 39; the DP, 25; the Civil Will Party, 1; and Independents, 1). President Enkhbayar decreed the opening of the new Great Khural on July 23, but the DP members staged a boycott to protest the GEC’s failure to produce full results. Eventually, the DP members agreed to attend the Great Khural on August 28, when the confirmed members took the oath. Elbegdorj resigned the DP chairmanship and was replaced by Norovyn Altankhuyag.

MPRP Chairman Bayar then proposed the formation of a “joint” government with the DP, and the two parties concluded a formal agreement to share posts. On September 11, Bayar was reelected prime minister, and Altankhuyag became chief deputy prime minister. The new cabinet of 15 ministers (11 ministries) included 6 DP members. By year’s end the official election results for the last four seats, in Ulaanbaatar Bayangol constituency, remained undeclared.

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